Blizzard Warning Issued for West Glacier Region; 80 MPH Gusts and Whiteout Conditions Expected
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for the West Glacier Region, effective from midnight tonight through Thursday morning, with wind gusts up to 80 mph and life-threatening travel conditions.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Blizzard Warning
- Affected area
- West Glacier Region, Montana
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Missoula
Winter notices differ by expected impact and timing. The original notice carries the forecast window and any travel guidance for the named area.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in West Glacier Region, Montana.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Missoula, MT, has issued a Blizzard Warning (NWS code: BZW) for the West Glacier Region. This alert follows a sequence of winter weather events including a Winter Weather Advisory and a Winter Storm Warning, escalating to a Blizzard Warning as conditions deteriorate.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the West Glacier Region, specifically including:
- Polebridge
- Marias Pass
- Bad Rock Canyon
- Highway 83 from Bigfork to Swan Lake
- Glacier National Park
- Essex
- US Highway 2 east of West Glacier to Marias Pass
What You Should Do
Residents and travelers are urged to delay all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and carry a winter storm kit. This kit should include tire chains, booster cables, a flashlight, a shovel, blankets, extra clothing, water, and a first aid kit. If you become stranded, stay in your vehicle to survive. Whiteout conditions will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.
Expected Conditions
- Wind: Extremely strong gusts between 60 and 80 mph are expected at all elevations.
- Visibility: Falling and blowing snow will cause visibilities to drop below 1/4 mile, creating whiteout conditions.
- Snow Accumulation: While the blizzard phase focuses on wind and visibility, total snow accumulations throughout the multi-day event are significant. The initial warning period expects up to 6 inches, followed by a secondary storm period with accumulations between 5 and 20 inches.
- Hazards: High likelihood of extreme impacts, including extensive tree damage and widespread disruptions to infrastructure.
Timeline
- Winter Weather Advisory: In effect until 6:00 PM MDT Wednesday.
- Winter Storm Warning: In effect from 6:00 PM Wednesday to midnight MDT.
- Blizzard Warning: In effect from midnight tonight to 9:00 AM MDT Thursday.
- Secondary Winter Storm Warning: In effect from 9:00 AM Thursday to noon MDT Saturday.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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